Key Facts
• June 18, Ishigaki City Council passed a no-confidence motion against Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama.
• Allegations include falsifying approval dates on a fiscal proposal for 2024 health insurance.
• The proposal aimed to cover a ¥92 million deficit in the 2024 National Health Insurance budget.
• The approval date was backdated to May 30, though the document was created on June 9.
• A city official falsely claimed the mayor approved the document at a May 30 event.
• 19 council members supported the motion, with only two opposing it.
• Mayor Nakayama apologized, citing “administrative errors” and pledged to decide on resignation or council dissolution.
• 16 officials, including the deputy mayor, signed the falsified document.
• The city health department admitted to backdating to meet budget deadlines.
• Opposition parties criticized the act as “forgery of official documents” and “organizational misconduct.”
Summary
The Ishigaki City Council passed a no-confidence motion against Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama on June 18, citing falsification of official documents. The controversy centers on a fiscal proposal to address a ¥92 million deficit in the 2024 National Health Insurance budget, which was backdated to meet legal deadlines. The mayor and 16 officials, including senior city staff, were implicated in the forgery. Opposition parties condemned the act as organizational misconduct, while the mayor apologized and promised to decide between resignation or dissolving the council. The incident has sparked public criticism and raised concerns about administrative integrity.
